Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1887-09-08
APLEA FOR REFORM.

The right Of petition while beiu
guaranteed by constitution, is neverthc-
,ess sometimes exercised iu such man
ner 40 to mislead the very signers them
selves. For instance, take the one
against the passage Of the ''stock ord'o- :
auce'' now before the council. 1t y
alleged as reason, why it should mo-
pass, that it would compel owners Of
cows to ''keep them up the year round /
This is mistake, it is spccious. Was i
designed to deceive men 80 as. to raise
hostility to it? 1t provides only that
stock shall not run at largo upon the
streets. Az the city owns no publ 'c
parks or grounds, aside from the
burial place for its dead, it has no pre- +
perty interests and desires 10 exercise 90
Jurisdiction further than the streets.
Now then to say that stock shall roa N
at will upon the streets, where no man
has any right at all save that which is
common to every other man, the ''ght
to pass oucr them, is to say that the
strong shall Cypress the weak, that ma
jority, by reason Of number, shall ira"
PIE upon and crush miuorities to be
wall. Msjorities rule? No sir this is
not question where majorities ought TO
rule. It is protection to the peaceful
enjoyment Of property and home. /.
The spirit that is now operating TO
perpetuate this eyasperating species OF
aespoliation, is the same spirit that has
throttled the town from its beginning
and held it 10 the hand Of sporadic
decay, where the dry rot is permeatiog
every pore, and which, unless soon Or
rested, will eat out the whole core and
substance and plunge the whole structure
into irretrieveable disaster.
As we'll does justification reach the
highwayman who holds up his luckless
victim upon the roadway, because he's
in the majority. Condemnation is mis-
applied to those friends who despoil the
suffering wretches 50 unfortunate as to be
caught in deaths grasp at n Chatsworlh
horror, because Of their strength. Time
has been when this tair city was overrrn
with horde Of cut-throa,s, who held
high carnival, terrorizing any who might
stand 10 their way, all because OF a
majority. Might thatsmakes right is On
par with that tyranny that revels in
the woes Of ireland. Whenever the
rights of single individual are encroach.
cd upon, crime is there committed, and
no rule OF majorities can Operate.
Petition, then Tor the pcrpetration Of a
crime? What benefit then is the
maintainancc Of municipal government,
founded for the very purpose OF establish
ing good order and securing the welfare
Of the humblcst and most helpless Of its
citizens? 20 -
But we deny that majority Of The
taxpayers Of the city arc opposed tc
this wholesome legislation. But sixty
names appear upon tho remoustrauce and
many Of these persons own not a sin q,
dollar Of property in the town; contribute
not cent tn its treasury. What in
ttrest can they then have in its progressi
How dare they raise voice to oppose
good order? Perchance this Is the rea
soc sud the only one; that they deem
il luxury to indulge in sviA milk
But, some say, the grass would grow III
oar streets were the cows not allowed to
Craze thereon; very we'll, then for PHYS
sake tie their heads to their heels so they
cant climb into farmers wagon when
he comes to make US a little business,
and dsvour the mess of provender he
brings TO- prepare his team for his return
home, It is not true that cows would
have to DO kept up, except, perhaps, at
night, because there is az open rnge gu,
just little way, and many small boy
who would be only too glad to earn =
few pennies driving the COWS away
They say too that some families derive
nearly their whole support from the pro
duct Of their cows. Then We say thu
place for such is in the country, wher,
they can live without infringing upor
the rights Of their neiyhbor. We hav,
no doubt those remaining would gladly
submit to q tax to make up any de6ci
eocy arising in the domestic recruitment
Of those that 60. No town Of the size
and age Of Lewiston has neglected, &C
long. . matter OF this kind; the number
Of q similar ordinance 10 Walla Walla i,
the ninth, one Of the very first amous
the police. The visitor there as he see,
the open grounds erased aud shaded
the clean streets bnrdered with tree
exclaims. What delightful place to liv'
in! Lewiston can be made no less so
and We look anxiously to the mayor anC
council to remove the incubus that rest
like the pail Of death upon its fortunes
AGGREGATION AND ANNExA.